Universal Sieger - Page 5

Hexe, Richard and I are trying to convince the GSDCA to pay us a finders fee for every new member we prospect. So far, they won't even respond to our emails. Any idea why?

Yes folks, we have a conspiracy going.  Since, I have never met or spoken directly with Blitzen it very easy for us to come up membership drive strategies. Admittedly, if any club wants to send me a check for my advertising efforts, I will probably accept it.  No, I will not hold my breath in anticipation of an increase in my treasury.

Do I get half?

Blitzen:

Since you are a co-conspirator, you are entitled to at least half!!!!!

GSDstudent: 

Trust me, I don't need a dictionary or even a thesaurus to communicate my thoughts. Way back when I went to school, the school systems actually required their students to read, write and understand the  English language above the 3rd grade level. Way back then, believe it or not, schools actually had English Classes that required  vocabulary enhancements. Way back then, our teachers demanded that we prove our ability to write sentences with more that 3 words and with words comprised of more than 4 letters and two syllables. Don't you wish you had experienced such a demanding curriculum? 

Furthermore, you have an interesting pseudonym, but way back when I grew up, we were also taught to not be ashamed of our identity!  May the winds be at your back, the rains fall freshly on your head, and the sun shine brightly upon your face as you travel down life's pathways!.  Next time you feel spuriously inclined and find yourself again persuaded to be so biliously obstinate, take a deep breath followed by three bites out of a sour pickle. You may be astonished at how refreshed, enlightened and exuberant you might feel after the experience.

"we were also taught to not be ashamed of our identity"

Richard, the world is not as innocent as it was years ago. One need not be 'ashamed' of their identity to make use of a screen name--one only needs to have had the foresight to see that it is better to be cautious and use a pseudonym on the Interwebs than to reveal your 'government name' and risk finding a lunatic on your doorstep, or a thief inside your house.

Yep, sure thang....

Kevin

Hexe,  I don't fear lunatics coming to my doorstep. The authors of our nation's most brilliant document, The Constitution or the United States of America,  afforded me with a certain inalienable right. That divinely inspired document gave me the right to keep an bear arms. That right has survived the "progressives" best efforts to abolish it for almost 12 Score Years.

In the United States of American, we are really fortunate. We have a choice of cures for lunatics who brazenly attempt to threaten us with their  attempts to instill inhumane terroristic actions, promote social mayhem  and approach our persons and residences with dastardly intentions.  Yes indeed, we have three companies who make those less than civilized Neanderthal-like  reprobates, whether they be motivated by Al Quieda, ISIS, or some spineless domestic Rebel Rousers, realize the errors of their ways and facilitate their meeting with St. Peter.   Clearly and Undeniably, the 3 companies who afford us the solution to promoted riots, and scurrilous threats to our persons and property are: Ruger, Colt and Smith & Wesson. Those three companies provide an option that allows American Citizens to relieve societal threats to themselves and their property with the simple touch of their index finger.

The threats we face from terrorist and those that promote racial rioting today are the exact reasons our Constitution afforded us with the RIGHT to keep and bear arms.

Richard, I'm glad you do not fear such visits, but perhaps you weren't around during the USENET days, when such things DID happen. As a single female living in a remote area by myself, I prefer not to broadcast who and where I am to unknown individuals on the web. And fortunately, I don't have to do so. It's my choice, just as it's yours and Kevin's to openly ID yourselves--or not, because if we're being truthful, there's nothing to stop anyone from CLAIMING to be you, or Kevin, or Elvis Presley for that matter. 

I have no problem with people bearing arms, but just as you are free to bear them against lunatics on your doorstep [actually, not really--you'd have to show evidence that your life was being threatened, at least, and that they weren't just annoying you], said lunatics ALSO have that right, and I'd rather not have to play a guessing game when someone rings my doorbell. But all this is a discussion for another forum, and has nothing to do with the subject of the Universal Sieger.

As for Kevin's comment, I'm not really sure if your last one was directed toward me, but that doesn't matter. I have the utmost respect for ANY handler who puts the time and effort into getting their dogs prepared and out there in both the conformation ring AND the trial field in pursuit of the Universal designation, and can only hope we see more of them do so. It can only benefit the breed, IMO; I believe there is no justification for show line GSDs that are insufficient in the work, nor any for sport or working line GSDs that can't obtain a show rating and pass a breed survey [though I also agree with those who believe the elimination of the classifications will prove detrimental to the breed in the long run].  Until sport/working line breeders and handlers become more involved in the conformation end of things, and start becoming not just performance judges, but conformation judges as well, it will remain difficult for their dogs to find equal assessment in that venue.

Back to the original intent of this post, I think we were talking about the Universal Sieger competition.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Schutzhund originally a test to determine a German Shepherds breeding worthiness? From there it evolved into a "Dog Sport"?

I got into this sport because I love to see a good dog work and love training with my dog(s). But, to that end, I guess you could say I've become a bit of a dog snob. I love a beautiful German Shepherd that represents the breed standard. I've heard it many times, "How's his bitework?". There's a reason at the Sieger show they still have the performance exercise to evaluate whether a dog is truly representative of the Breed Standard. Is a German Shepherd Dog that won't engage a helper or do a simple heeling exercise really representative of the Breed Standard? Not if you read the standard it isn't. Personally I think the performance exercise should be done at ALL SV style conformation shows.

On the flip side, Working Line GSD's typically don't meet the Structural Aspect of the Breed Standard. I'm not speaking about all working line GSD's. I've seen many that have better conformation than quite a few show dogs. The standard is NOT all about structure. It's about the total dog. Conformation and working ability.

Is the Universal Sieger the be-all-end-all of the breed? Not hardly. You still have to do your work to match the right sire and dam together to truly try and improve the breed. Universal Sieger dogs are just a great place to start looking for trying to improve the breed. JMVHO!

I really like the concept that the Universal Sieger brings to the table. I believe that a dog must be structurally correct in order to work (Sport, LE, Herding, guarding, ect...) and as much as I knock on/make fun of the show ring and GSDs only bred for the ring, I have shown at a regional Conformation show. I will admit that i did this reluctantly but was really surprised at how much work and training it required to get my dog ready to show. I found a new respect for show handlers as it really is more than just running around the ring (besides my fat @$$ was struggling after the 4th lap to keep going ), stacking my dog and showing his best picture was not easy and knowing when to put 'pressure' to get him to lean a little here or there was an art form i failed at. Also trying to get my dog to leave my side and gate out in front was also really tough to teach.

But i am still a sport person and i believe that a GSD should prove themselves in both the show ring (earning a rating AND getting their KKL) and on the trial field. I whish more people would take their females (and males) to an IPO3 and deff at levels higher than a club trial. The GSD must have good structure, temperament, trainability and be able to work!!! and i believe that the Universal Sieger is a GREAT step in that direction. I think that Thom Payne's dog Zaston and Kris Taylor's dog Gordon are both great examples of what a GSD is.

A SV Koermeister once told me: "I dont care about the color of the dog, the color doesnt work, the dog does"